Living With Chronic Back Pain

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Chronic back pain management can have physical and emotional benefits. Chronic pain's emotional effects include depression, anger, anxiety, and fear of re-injury which may hinder the ability to return to work or once enjoyable activities.

The emotional toll of chronic pain also can make pain worse. Anxiety, stress, depression, anger, and fatigue interact in complex ways with chronic pain and may decrease the body's production of natural painkillers. Also, such negative feelings may increase the level of substances that amplify sensations of pain, causing a vicious cycle.

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As many as 40% of people will get sciatica, or irritation of the sciatic nerve, at some point in their life. This nerve comes from either side of the lower spine and travels through the pelvis and buttocks. Then the nerve passes along the back of each upper leg before it divides at the knee into branches that go to the feet.
Anything that puts pressure on or irritates this nerve can cause pain that shoots down the back of one buttock or thigh. The sensation of pain can vary widely. Sciatica may...

If you or someone you love suffers from chronic pain, it's important to get help. There are many effective treatments available to relieve pain so that you or your loved one can start living again.

Managing Chronic Pain

The ideal treatment for chronic pain is a comprehensive approach that addresses a person's physical, emotional, and cognitive needs. Successful treatment requires choosing a life-long plan of wellness that may include:

Physician services

Physical therapy

Psychological counseling

Occupational therapy

If you suffer from chronic pain, the first thing to do is see a doctor and get treated. Other steps that can make living with chronic pain more tolerable include the following:

Learn how to relax through deep breathing and other stress management techniques.

Set achievable goals and don't over do it on good days; learn to pace yourself.